Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Commerce > Topic 1 - Government and Democracy > Flashcards

Topic 1 - Government and Democracy Flashcards

1
Q

What is a democracy?

A

a system where people vote for a party to represent the government. Democracy was created so everyone could have a say in whats happens in the government.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the Constitution?

A

a set of rules, principles or guidelines that establishes the law-making powers of a country. The Australian constitution sets out each of the states and territories can make laws.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

When did the constitution come into effect?

A

It came into effect on January 1st 1901 when the colonies federated and Australia became one nation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the three levels of government?

A
  • Federal
  • State/ Territory
  • Local
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Federal Government

A

Gets money to run the country through taxes on incomes, goods and services and company profits to spend on national matters: For example, defence to protect all the people in Australia.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

State/ Territory Government

A

also, get money from taxes but also half from the federal government and spend it on state/ territory matters. For example, Schools, so that every student has access to education in that state/ territory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Local government

A

collect money from taxes from all local property owners and receive money from the federal and state/territory governments and spend this on local matters. For example, rubbish collection as they’re responsible for collecting rubbish from Mornington peninsula for example.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Similarities of House of Representatives & Senate 1.0

A
  • Design of the houses (horseshoe shape/encourages debate/makes members visible)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Differences of House of Representatives & Senate 1.0

A
  • number of seats (HOR 151 seats (say why) and Senate 76 seats (12 seats each state and 2 each territory) )
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Similarities of House of Representatives & Senate 2.0

A
  • where the government sits (government sits to the right of the person who runs the house)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Differences of House of Representatives & Senate 2.0

A
  • Length of terms (HOR - 3 years) and (Senate - 6 years)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

National Party history

A
  • Created 22 January 1920 federally
  • Originally being called the country party
  • became national party in 1982
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

National Party Political Platform

A
  • Believe the future of a stronger regional australia is important
  • stronger regional economies & secure communities
  • sustainable environment and communities
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

National Party Voters

A

Graziers, Farmers, People who live in rural areas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Greens History

A

formed in 1922

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Greens Political platform

A

focus on 4 principles: ecological sustainability, social + economic justice, peace + non violence, grassroots democracy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Greens Voters

A

people who value the environment over business and want Australian policies to be more environmentally friendly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Liberal Party History

A

formed in 1944 but originated from first the federal parliament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Liberal Party Political platform

A

focus on privatisation, small government and remaining controls over industry, commerce + labour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Liberal Party Voters

A

business + company supporters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Labour Party History

A

founded in the 1890s in the Australian colonies prior to federation, Labour held the balance of power.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Labour Party political platform

A
  • emphasises on greater state intervention, social justice and strengthening workers rights.
  • support free-market policies and us alliance
  • tend to be conservative on some social issues
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Labour Party voters

A

blue-collar workers/labour workers, workers in general

24
Q

arguments used in favour of compulsory voting

A

voting is another duty we as citizens have to do such as taxes, getting an education till you’re 16 and to have jury duty

25
Q

arguments used against compulsory voting

A

people who don’t know anything about politics and don’t want to participate are forced to vote, increasing “donkey votes” and informal votes

26
Q

arguments used in favour of compulsory voting 2

A

candidates can focus on actual issues and policies instead of wasting time to encourage people to vote, such as in America, candidates spend lots of money to encourage voters

27
Q

arguments used against compulsory voting 2

A

as a democratic country with freedom of choice, it would infringe on our freedom by making people vote

28
Q

What does the Australian parliament consist of

A

the queen(represented by the governor-general), the senate, the house of representatives

29
Q

where is the Australian parliament located

A

in Canberra, in ACT

30
Q

Four main roles of the Australian parliament

A
  • making and changing federal laws
  • representing the people of Australia
  • providing a place where government is formed
  • keeping a check on the work of the government
31
Q

The Australian Constitution

A

the Australian constitution gives law-making powers to the commonwealth parliament. Most of these powers are in sections 51 and 52 of the constitution.

32
Q

Summary of Commonwealth powers in section 51 of the constitution

A

trade, currency, divorce, defence, taxation, national insurance, copyright etc….

33
Q

Changing the Australian constitution

A

the constitution can only be changed with a referendum that’s accepted by the parliament and if a majority of Australians vote yes. This is known as double majority

34
Q

judiciary

A

power to make judgements on the law

35
Q

parliament

A

power to make and change the law

36
Q

executive government

A

power to put a law into action

37
Q

Australian parliament role: making and changing federal laws

A

Parliament makes new laws and fix existing laws. To make or amend a law, a bill must be introduced to the parliament. Most bills are introduced by ministers, but also non-government members can. Bills are debated and voted on by members of parliament. A bill becomes a law with a majority vote from house of representatives, the senate and royal approval

38
Q

Australian parliament role: checking on the work of the government

A

The parliament closely watches the work of government, including: examining bills, analysing government decisions in major policy debates, investigate spending of tax-payers money, questioning the government. parliamentary scrutiny helps to ensure the government acts responsibly when managing Australia’s affairs, spending public money and serving the interests of people.

39
Q

Governor-general

A
  • is chosen to represent the queen
  • the term is usually 5 years
  • has some responsibility for ensuring that Australia is governed according to the rules in constitution
40
Q

Australia is…

A

a constitutional monarchy so the queen is our head of state

41
Q

Roles for Governor-general

A
  • giving royal assent
  • starting the process for a federal election
  • appointing times for sessions of parliament to be held
  • convening a joint sitting of parliament
  • acting as commander-in-chief of the Australian defence force
42
Q

who is the governor-general?

A

Peter Cosgrove

43
Q

For HOR Australia is divided up…

A

into 151 geographical divisions aka electorates or seats, each electorate has roughly 100,000 voters

44
Q

What democracy does Australia have?

A

a representative democracy

45
Q

what is the house of representatives sometimes referred to as?

A

“the people’s house”

46
Q

HOR role

A
  • Form government(with 70 seats)
  • decide matters of national interest
  • represent the interests of people in their electorates
  • propose, debate and vote on bills and amendments
  • examine issues in committees
  • scrutinise executive government
47
Q

Senate role

A
  • decides matters of national interest
  • represent the interests of people in their states or territories
  • propose, debate and vote on bills and amendments
  • examine issues in committees
  • scrutinise executive government
48
Q

political party

A

members of a political party have similar ideas and policies on how to best govern a country

49
Q

Senate

A

76 seats in the senate, 12 senators from each state and 2 senators from each territory

50
Q

Colours of HOR and Senate

A

HOR- green

Senate- red

51
Q

who runs the senate

A

the president

52
Q

who runs HOR

A

the speaker

53
Q

two areas the senate can’t introduce a bill in

A

money & taxation

54
Q

coalition

A

a political party or group of parties that wins a majority of seats in the HOR (at least 70 out of 151), will have won the election and forms government. (majority rule)

55
Q

coalition 2

A

the leader of the party (or coalition) that won a majority of seats in the HOR is the prime minister, the leader of the party (or coalition) that has the largest number of seats but not the majority in HOR is the opposition leader

Commerce (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions